Defending Champion: Brandt Snedeker defeated Kyle Stanley in a two-hole playoff after Stanley found the water on the 72nd hole. Snedeker overcame a seven-shot deficit on Sunday for his third career (at the time) victory.

Dates: January 24-27

Format: Players will play each course once before playing the weekend at the South course. Top 70 and ties will make the weekend.

North Course

Yards: 7,067

Par: 72 (36-36)

Greens: Bentgrass/Poa annua (4,500 square feet on average)

Stimpmeter: 10.5’

Bunkers: 60

Water Hazards: 2

Course Architect: William Bell (1957)

Notes: Only PGA West (Nickalus Private) and Kapalua played easier in 2012. The North has been in the easier half of courses played on TOUR over the last five years.

History Lessons

After the early 2013 rookie rebellion, plenty of you will probably want to jump in grab you one this week, but read this first.

No rookie has won this event since 1954 when amateur Gene Littler was victorious. Like Prince said, that’s an awfully long time.

Since 2000, only four players (Woods twice, Mickelson and Daly) have converted a 54-hole lead into victory. These are all major champions.

Woods (62) holds the South course record while Brandt Snedeker and Mark Brooks share the North course record of 61. Two of them have titles here.

The average winning score since 1999 is just over 15-under-par. The last two winners each posted 272 (-16). Tiger Woods and George Burns share the tournament record at 266 (-22).

Of the last 21 winners here, 17 have been major champions. In the last four years, three of the four winners have not been major champions. Trend or not to trend; that is the question!

Rank and File

Eighteen of the top 50 in the OWGR are playing this week

Seventeen of the 30 players who played in the TOUR Championship are entered this week as well.

Of Course

As everyone remembers, Torrey Pines South course was the scene for the 2008 U.S. Open where Tiger Woods finally put away Rocco Mediate. Although the course will not be set up to those conditions, the South course, which will be used for the weekend rounds, will present the first non-resort challenge of 2013. The rough will come into play off the fairway and around the greens. Playing over 7,600 yards, you would think guys who can bomb it here will have an advantage. They do (Daly, Mickelson, Woods, Watney, Singh and Watson as former winners suggest this) but Brandt Snedeker and Ben Crane, two of the last three winners, are more known for their putting than their distance off the tee so shorter hitters are not to be written off this week either.

Gamers, time to start paying attention as the conditions this week on the course will change dramatically. For the first time in 2013, we will see actual, penal rough off the fairways as the sticky kikuyugrass will be approaching 3.5 inches long. Secondly, the Bermudagrass greens that they players have been feasting on the last three weeks will now be lumpy-bumpy Poa Annua for three rounds on the South course. Brandt Snedeker, the best putter on TOUR, could putt on cobblestones but I would recommend guys with experience at Torrey Pines and previous success on the West Coast on courses with Poa annua when drafting your team this week.

Top 10, Plus One

Dustin Johnson: The HTOC winner is coming off a WD at the Sony Open after a bout with the flu. His new girlfriend is “sick”, as the kids would say. He’s shown his love for the coast of California at Pebble over the years. The conditions won’t bother him if wind picks up. His best finish in five events at Torrey Pines is T3 in 2011. When he’s healthy, he can win any time he tees it up.

Tiger Woods: He’s won here six times, seven if you include the 2008 U.S. Open. He’s entered this event 12 times and been in the top 10 in 11 of those. His three victories last year all came in events where he had multiple career victories. He won’t have any jet lag from the Middle East to worry about as he went home after his round Friday after missing the cut in Dubai. His worst finish at this event, T44, was in his last start back in 2011.

Bubba Watson: The 2011 champion shifted the number of major winners in the last 21 years in this event after his win at last year’s Masters. He likes San Diego as evidence in his seven starts here. He has a T4, T7 and T13 to go along with his win. This will be his eighth consecutive start at Torrey Pines so you know he looks forward to teeing it up here especially after putting together a solid weekend at Humana.

Brandt Snedeker: The 2012 champion backed up his solo third finish at the HTOC with a T23 finish last week in the Coachella Valley. In six events here Snedeker has been first, T2, third and T9 at Torrey Pines. Yes, please.

Nick Watney: The 2009 champion adds a T6 and a pair of T9s on top of that victory as he tees it up for the ninth year running at Torrey Pines. His T13 at Kapalua isn’t going to blow you away but his late season finish to 2012 should pique your interest as he played quite well.

Rickie Fowler: The So-Cal native opened his 2013 with a T6 at the HTOC and will feel right at home at Torrey Pines this week. He’s played in three events and been par or better in 10 of those 12 rounds. He has finished T5, T20 and T13 last year so I would endorse him this week without question.

Phil Mickelson: This will be the 24th time that Mickelson has teed it up in his backyard and he’s made the cut in 19 previous events. He has three victories, second only to Woods, and is currently redesigning the North course that he grew up playing. He shook off the rust to have a nice weekend in the desert last week but he’ll have to shake off the tax man questions this week. I can’t figure out Mickelson this early in the season but, as I always say, I can’t dismiss him either.

Scott Piercy: The SDSU grad was cruising along here last year before a final round 73 derailed his chances. Piercy is really coming into his own and his T15 at Sony his last time out included a pair of 64s to open. His length will help him destroy par five and par fours this week.

Keegan Bradley: He enjoys courses that are long and strong and Torrey Pines South fits that format. He has no problems on poa Annua greens as evidence by his stellar play at Riviera, Pebble and here. If he’s in the field, he’s probably in this column! He’s finished T25 and T22 in the last two years.

Charles Howell III: In an interview after round three at Humana, Howell talked about how much he enjoyed making his schedule every year and how he looks forward to playing the courses where he performs well. Add the Farmers Insurance Open to that list. It’s easy to see why. In 10 events, CH III has six finishes in the top 14 and has never missed the cut. He opened with T3 at the Sony and lost in a playoff at Humana last week. Giddy up!

Hunter Mahan: After three MCs, a T56 and a T29 in his first five appearances here, Mahan, the Orange, California native, has embraced the challenge at Torrey Pines. In his last four starts, the premium ball striker has finished T11, T27 and T6 the past two years here. He’s been knocking on the door. Time to open it up!

Farmers Insurance Open

Torrey Pines South (host) and North courses

La Jolla, CA

South Course

Yards: 7,698

Par: 72 (36-36)

Greens: Poa annua (5,860 square feet on average)

Rough: Perennial ryegrass/kikuyugrass 3.5”

Stimpmeter: 12’

Bunkers: 78

Water Hazards: 1

Course Architect: William Bell (1957); Rees Jones (2001)

Purse: $6,100,000

Winner’s Share: $1,080,000

FexExCup Points: 500 to the winner

Defending Champion: Brandt Snedeker defeated Kyle Stanley in a two-hole playoff after Stanley found the water on the 72nd hole. Snedeker overcame a seven-shot deficit on Sunday for his third career (at the time) victory.

Dates: January 24-27

Format: Players will play each course once before playing the weekend at the South course. Top 70 and ties will make the weekend.

North Course

Yards: 7,067

Par: 72 (36-36)

Greens: Bentgrass/Poa annua (4,500 square feet on average)

Stimpmeter: 10.5’

Bunkers: 60

Water Hazards: 2

Course Architect: William Bell (1957)

Notes: Only PGA West (Nickalus Private) and Kapalua played easier in 2012. The North has been in the easier half of courses played on TOUR over the last five years.

History Lessons

After the early 2013 rookie rebellion, plenty of you will probably want to jump in grab you one this week, but read this first.

No rookie has won this event since 1954 when amateur Gene Littler was victorious. Like Prince said, that’s an awfully long time.

Since 2000, only four players (Woods twice, Mickelson and Daly) have converted a 54-hole lead into victory. These are all major champions.

Woods (62) holds the South course record while Brandt Snedeker and Mark Brooks share the North course record of 61. Two of them have titles here.

The average winning score since 1999 is just over 15-under-par. The last two winners each posted 272 (-16). Tiger Woods and George Burns share the tournament record at 266 (-22).

Of the last 21 winners here, 17 have been major champions. In the last four years, three of the four winners have not been major champions. Trend or not to trend; that is the question!

Rank and File

Eighteen of the top 50 in the OWGR are playing this week

Seventeen of the 30 players who played in the TOUR Championship are entered this week as well.

Of Course

As everyone remembers, Torrey Pines South course was the scene for the 2008 U.S. Open where Tiger Woods finally put away Rocco Mediate. Although the course will not be set up to those conditions, the South course, which will be used for the weekend rounds, will present the first non-resort challenge of 2013. The rough will come into play off the fairway and around the greens. Playing over 7,600 yards, you would think guys who can bomb it here will have an advantage. They do (Daly, Mickelson, Woods, Watney, Singh and Watson as former winners suggest this) but Brandt Snedeker and Ben Crane, two of the last three winners, are more known for their putting than their distance off the tee so shorter hitters are not to be written off this week either.

Gamers, time to start paying attention as the conditions this week on the course will change dramatically. For the first time in 2013, we will see actual, penal rough off the fairways as the sticky kikuyugrass will be approaching 3.5 inches long. Secondly, the Bermudagrass greens that they players have been feasting on the last three weeks will now be lumpy-bumpy Poa Annua for three rounds on the South course. Brandt Snedeker, the best putter on TOUR, could putt on cobblestones but I would recommend guys with experience at Torrey Pines and previous success on the West Coast on courses with Poa annua when drafting your team this week.

Top 10, Plus One

Dustin Johnson: The HTOC winner is coming off a WD at the Sony Open after a bout with the flu. His new girlfriend is “sick”, as the kids would say. He’s shown his love for the coast of California at Pebble over the years. The conditions won’t bother him if wind picks up. His best finish in five events at Torrey Pines is T3 in 2011. When he’s healthy, he can win any time he tees it up.

Tiger Woods: He’s won here six times, seven if you include the 2008 U.S. Open. He’s entered this event 12 times and been in the top 10 in 11 of those. His three victories last year all came in events where he had multiple career victories. He won’t have any jet lag from the Middle East to worry about as he went home after his round Friday after missing the cut in Dubai. His worst finish at this event, T44, was in his last start back in 2011.

Bubba Watson: The 2011 champion shifted the number of major winners in the last 21 years in this event after his win at last year’s Masters. He likes San Diego as evidence in his seven starts here. He has a T4, T7 and T13 to go along with his win. This will be his eighth consecutive start at Torrey Pines so you know he looks forward to teeing it up here especially after putting together a solid weekend at Humana.

Brandt Snedeker: The 2012 champion backed up his solo third finish at the HTOC with a T23 finish last week in the Coachella Valley. In six events here Snedeker has been first, T2, third and T9 at Torrey Pines. Yes, please.

Nick Watney: The 2009 champion adds a T6 and a pair of T9s on top of that victory as he tees it up for the ninth year running at Torrey Pines. His T13 at Kapalua isn’t going to blow you away but his late season finish to 2012 should pique your interest as he played quite well.

Rickie Fowler: The So-Cal native opened his 2013 with a T6 at the HTOC and will feel right at home at Torrey Pines this week. He’s played in three events and been par or better in 10 of those 12 rounds. He has finished T5, T20 and T13 last year so I would endorse him this week without question.

Phil Mickelson: This will be the 24th time that Mickelson has teed it up in his backyard and he’s made the cut in 19 previous events. He has three victories, second only to Woods, and is currently redesigning the North course that he grew up playing. He shook off the rust to have a nice weekend in the desert last week but he’ll have to shake off the tax man questions this week. I can’t figure out Mickelson this early in the season but, as I always say, I can’t dismiss him either.

Scott Piercy: The SDSU grad was cruising along here last year before a final round 73 derailed his chances. Piercy is really coming into his own and his T15 at Sony his last time out included a pair of 64s to open. His length will help him destroy par five and par fours this week.

Keegan Bradley: He enjoys courses that are long and strong and Torrey Pines South fits that format. He has no problems on poa Annua greens as evidence by his stellar play at Riviera, Pebble and here. If he’s in the field, he’s probably in this column! He’s finished T25 and T22 in the last two years.

Charles Howell III: In an interview after round three at Humana, Howell talked about how much he enjoyed making his schedule every year and how he looks forward to playing the courses where he performs well. Add the Farmers Insurance Open to that list. It’s easy to see why. In 10 events, CH III has six finishes in the top 14 and has never missed the cut. He opened with T3 at the Sony and lost in a playoff at Humana last week. Giddy up!

Hunter Mahan: After three MCs, a T56 and a T29 in his first five appearances here, Mahan, the Orange, California native, has embraced the challenge at Torrey Pines. In his last four starts, the premium ball striker has finished T11, T27 and T6 the past two years here. He’s been knocking on the door. Time to open it up!

Don’t Overlook

These guys just missed out on the premium list but should not be dismissed this week.

Bill Haas: He’s right on schedule from last year heading into this week as he didn’t play very well at HTOC or at Humana. Last year he fired an opening round 63 and finished T4. In eight starts here, he adds four more T20 or better to his finish last year.

Jason Day: Let’s not forget two years ago Day was runner-up at the Masters and the U.S. Open at Congressional. He’s put last year behind him and his flying below the radar. As far as he hits it, he’ll have a chance this week if he holes putts. The only thing that scares me about him this week is his lack of success at Torrey Pines and on the West Coast. I still believe.

John Huh: In his first trip around Torrey Pines as a pro, Huh opened with a 64 and finished T6 after a Sunday 74. His strength is his driving accuracy and his putter. He’ll hit more greens (for more birdie chances) from the short grass than the kikuyugrass. His 63 in the second round at the Sony his last time out signals that he’s raring to go for 2013.

Marc Leishman: The Aussie is four-for-four in La Jolla and has a T2 and T9 to show for it as well. After stumbling out of the blocks at the HTOC he picked up a T9 at the Sony Open. He’s played 13 of 16 rounds at par or better at Torrey Pines.

Stewart Cink: Is it time to welcome back “The Kitchen Cink”? I say yes. He finished T10 last week at Humana and in 10 starts at Torrey Pines, he’s finished in the top 30 eight times. Sure, this was his first top 10 since May of 2011 but he’s playing well RIGHT NOW and that’s all I’m concerned about THIS WEEK!

John Rollins: In his last four starts here he’s finished second, T20, MC and solo third last year. He’s played twice this year and finished T20 and T16.

Nicolas Colsaerts: I like his length and he’s showed at Olympic Club last summer that he can play on the West Coast on tough courses.

Cameron Tringale: The Mission Viejo native is getting better each year and better each time at Torrey Pines including last year’s T4.

Ben Crane: The 2010 champion has three additional finishes in the top 14 in eight career starts.

D.A. Points: In his last three outings here he’s finished T9, solo fifth and T8 last year. He’s played 10 of 12 rounds UNDER par.

Off the Beaten Path

Either “horse-for-course” or guys off the radar

Bud Cauley: The 2012 rookie was T13 here last year. In six rounds in 2013 he’s fired 63, 66 and 67 so he’s getting close.

Lucas Glover: He’s hit the top 10 three times in eight starts. He’s also been cut three times in eight starts. He’s high risk with a possible high reward.

Justin Leonard: He’s played only twice, 2008 (solo fifth) and last year T8, since 2006. He’s two-for-two in cuts made in 2013.

Pat Perez: Another So-Cal kid growing up, Perez went to Torrey Pines High School and won the Junior World title on this course. He was T22 last year and T20 in 2011. He blows hot and cold as evidenced by his start in 2013 but he’s worth a flyer this week.

Jimmy Walker: His work with Butch Harmon has led to T26 and T23 finishes beginning his season. He finished T8 here last year.

Matt Jones: He’s off to a very solid start in 2013 with T15 at the Sony and T23 last week at Humana. He’s struggled recently here but he did have a solo fifth in 2009.

Bill Lunde: If the alternate gets in the mix, beware. He led the field in GIR last year and that led to a T13 finish. He was raised in San Diego so he’s seen this course once or twice and he’s made three on the bounce improving each year.

Buyer Beware

Current form plus course history or injury has chased me away this week.

Brandt Jobe: Wrong Brandt this week as Jobe tees it up after a back injury for the first time in 2013.

Y.E. Yang: His 63 in the final round on Sunday at the Sony may have caught your eye but his best finish in four starts here is T44.

J.J. Henry: He has one top 25 (T11, 2009) in 11 starts here. Reach somewhere else.

Bo Van Pelt: I’m usually a big Van Pelt backer but this course isn’t one of his favorites. He’s played it five times since finishing T4 in 2004 and has been cut four of those times and was T67 in the other. None of those rounds found the 60’s either.

Jeff Overton: He mentioned via Twitter that he was excited to finish strong at Humana but his previous record here is cause for concern.

Ned Brown is a long-time contributor for Rotoworld Golf. He’s had documented success in Yahoo!’s game for years. Even if you’re confident in your selections for that game, give his insight a read. Now, Ned also provides us with his GolfChannel.com Fantasy Challenge selections as well!

GROUP A

Brandt Snedeker-- His record at the Farmers is outstanding with four top 3s in six starts, including a championship last year.

Tiger Woods-- Charles Howell III has been red hot the last couple of weeks, but I am giving Tiger the nod due to his six championships at the Farmers.

Rickie Fowler-- He played well at the TOC, where he tied for sixth place, and he has top 20 finishes in his three starts at the Farmers, with his best result being a T5 in '10.

John Rollins--He had a horrible end to last season, but he has looked good in his first two starts of 2013, with a T20 at the Sony and a T16 at the Humana. His recent history at the Farmers is very good with a second place in '09 and a third place last year.

And the analysis doesn't end here. Rotoworld's Rob Bolton and I will be co-hosting a one-hour live chat WEDNESDAY at NOON ET. We will be breaking down the field at the Farmers Insurance Open and answering your questions. Simply return to the golf home page to join in on the chatter.